Why yes, Anderson Cooper, I’d love to tell you about TopOutColleges.com…

Okay so maybe not Anderson Cooper, but still, I’m doing an interview with a local TV station here in Dallas about the site.  They did a little documentary on it, and so I’ll be adding some story to it through an interview.  Pretty exciting stuff!  I’ll be sure to post once I find out the channels, times, etc etc.  Hope everyone will watch!!

 

The more, the merrier!

So I’ve been busy recruiting campus representatives for TopOutColleges.com, and have just picked up 2 new ones.  They’ll be busy posting flyers and chalking on campus about the website, and one of them is even interested in forming a group on his campus where they can go and set up a booth about the website, which I think is really exciting.   If you’d like to become a representative for your campus, just email me.  TopOutColleges@gmail.com.  I’d love to hear from you, as well as any ideas you may have to get the word out to your campus, and other campuses in America.  Don’t forget, there are already flyers posted in the Photos section of the website’s Facebook group here.  

 

Where’d you go?

Internal Server Error?  Yeah.  Not good.  Actually we’re upgrading the server so it’ll be faster, and that’s why the site’s down.  Thanks to all that emailed me out of concern.  That was really nice.  We should be back up soon!   

 

Get involved!

A lot of people ask me how they can personally contribute to the LGBT student cause.  Outside the obvious, which is supporting sites like this one and others that cater to the LGBT student community, I’d say that there are several ways to get involved, be you a student or just a normal person.

1.  Contact the campus LGBT center and see if you can donate money or volunteer your time at their next fundraiser.  Some of the larger schools actually have a community outreach department in their LGBT Resource Center, and will be thrilled to speak with you.
2. If you are a student, help out with your LGBT Resource Centers projects, and if you should happen to belong to a smaller LGBT group, see about posting flyers around campus to spread the word about your group.  In our Facebook group, we have a few flyers listed that pertain to this site, and that might help to spread the overall word about the LGBT friendliness of the campus, as there are still many who are closeted, and so will not be attending your groups meetings or functions even if you do post flyers to promote them.  
3. Encourage your LGBT friends or group to purchase the Gay? Fine By Me shirts and wear them around campus.  Nothing better than a walking billboard!  
4. And last but not least, and this one is a new concept created by some friends of mine, join the Charity For Debt organization and/or join their Facebook group here.  You can work off your student debt and work for a charity doing it.  I know they are collecting lists of charities that their applicants would like to work for, and if you could get your campus LGBT group to agree to work at one or two local LGBT charities together, it’d be great exposure for your group, would help your group’s members work off debt, and would be doing something great for the LGBT community.  

So there are several ways you can get involved.  I’d also encourage you to do your own research in your local community to see what volunteer opportunities there are.  You might even find out that your very own LGBT Resource Center needs help going to local high schools and promoting their center to let the students there know that your campus is LGBT friendly, which I think would be Very exciting.  

 

Good luck! 

 

Happy New Year?

I’d say so!  What have we been doing since last we spoke?  Let’s see:   

• Managing the growth of the website from 1,500 users to 5,000 users.   
• Interviewing and taking on several volunteer article writers and interns.      
• Attending LGBT conferences in America and hosting workshops for TopOutColleges.com.   

Many of you have emailed asking how to get more involved in the website and the answer is to join our team of writers and interns!  We are accepting applications and look forward to talking to each and every interested candidate.  I’ll be posting something soon in the Facebook group, so keep an eye out there because we have semester and summer marketing internships available that would look great on your resume(hint, hint).   So come one, come all!

 

Turning over new leaves…or maybe ruffling a few feathers.

This week and last, I had LGBT Directors and officers from 7 different universities email me to ask for the data for their particular college. The reasons ranged from taking the data to show the school board that a LGBT Resource Center was needed on campus, to using the anonymous responses from their college to start a campus-wide LGBT survey, to a few Directors of LGBT Resource Centers wanting to improve their overall effectiveness on campus.

What does all this mean to you as a student? It means that you need to add your votes and especially your comments after each vote, and encourage all of your friends to do the same, because you Directors and officers and school boards are looking at this information. They know that a student’s opinion is worth its weight in gold because you are the ones who spread the word about how LGBT-friendly your campuses are and there are thousands of LGBT high school students looking for friendly colleges every year and they will believe you more than they believe them. Think of it this way…if your friend goes to a restaurant that’s supposed to be Hot and it turns out they tell you it was just “okay”, and then you see an ad in a newspaper about this Hot new restaurant, which one of them do you believe? Your friend, or the ad? Your friend, most likely, and the college staff knows that, so go to TopOutColleges.com and use the power you have through your opinions, and tell all of your friends to do the same!

 

Seasons Greetings!

Happy Holidays to all of you from TopOutColleges.com!

The finals are almost finished and the semester’s end reminds us that this year is almost over, so look back on it and reflect on how LGBT-friendly your campus was and go and leave your comments on the site after each vote, because prospective students want to hear your opinions!

Wishing you safe travels during the holidays!

Brent Robinson
P.S.  Hope you’re enjoying the videos.  ;-)

 

Lights. Camera. Action!!

That’s right, I’m now a great star of stage and screen….well not really, but I did just finish making and uploading some new videos on the website.  They’re on several pages, starting with the main page.  Right now you can also find video links on the Pics, Stories, and About Us pages.  Have a look, and don’t laugh!  It’s my first time ever to be in front of a camera.  :-)

 

Major updates!

I know, the site is down, and has been for hours.  We’re in the process of updating the server with some of those major updates that Microsoft sends out all the time.  Started before dawn, and was supposed to be finished by now, but it’s still going.  The site will be back up soon, I promise!

In the meantime though, join or invite your friends to the site’s Facebook group here:  http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=5159577331 

*****UPDATE*****

The site is back up and things are running smoothly.  Thanks to everyone for your patience.

 

LGBT Partner/Ruby Web Developer needed at TopOutColleges.com

Dear faithful blog readers, take a look and let me know if this interests you.  If it doesn’t, tell a friend!

TopOutColleges.com is the first and only website where students voice their own opinions and rate their colleges on LGBT-friendliness. The site is a major resource for LGBT campus organizations that want to improve upon campus issues, and for prospective students who are looking for a LGBT-friendly college.

You’re a visionary developer who’s not afraid to throw out off-the-wall ideas for the expansion of this Ruby-based website, and of several others under the TopOut umbrella. You’ve got some good work experience under your belt, but your true brilliance comes from your street smarts and your ability to innovate. You’ve done the scene, know what interests people like us, and now you’re ready to get your head in the game and do something good for the LGBT community by building an awesome brand with a company you’re passionate about, and that you own. You’re borderline shy/wild, and are a cat who’s lost at least one life to curiosity. You’re optimistic, outgoing, love to help people, and won’t rest until you do. You’ll work closely with the Founder/CEO who’ll be firing ideas right back at you, and will expect a minimum of 10-15 hours a week from a dedicated, outrageous go-getter.

If this is for you, and you’re ready to inspire, shock, and outdo even Da Vinci in the realm of creativity, send an email to TopOutColleges@gmail.com and tell us in a one-page cover letter how you’ll rock us at TopOutColleges.com.